Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekfirmenich’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekfirmenich’, characterized by its daisy-type inflorescences with red purple and white bi-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; uniform flowering habit; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DEKFIRMENICH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Dekfirmenich’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new daisy-type Chrysanthemum plantswith large inflorescences, strong flowering stems, attractive and uniqueray floret coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on Oct. 8, 2007, of aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as codenumber 40693, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as codenumber 41257, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands in May, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlandssince April, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this newChrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dekfirmenich’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Dekfirmenich’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Daisy-type inflorescences with red purple and white        bi-colored ray florets.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Uniform flowering habit.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance        for about 20 days in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are less vigorous than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower two days earlier than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent        selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female        parent selection have pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower three days earlier        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Dektimman’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,010. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of‘Dektimman’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger leaves than plants        of ‘Dektimman’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering        than plants of ‘Dektimman’.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered two days earlier        than plants of ‘Dektimman’.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more        upright than ray florets of plants of ‘Dektimman’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum plant. These photographs show the colors astrue as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions ofthis type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘Dekfirmenich’ grown as a spray-type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the upper(top of photograph) and lower surfaces (bottom of photograph) of typicalinflorescences and leaves of ‘Dekfirmenich’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in Hensbroek, TheNetherlands, under commercial practice in ground beds in a glass-coveredgreenhouse. Plants were initially given 1.5 weeks of long day/shortnight treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induceflower initiation and development. During the production of the plants,day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures rangedfrom 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels were about 7 kilolux. Plants were8.5 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. Inthe following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Dekfirmenich’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 40693,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 41257,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days            at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days            at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous daisy-type cut flower            that is typically grown as a spray-type; moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong.            Length: About 75 cm. Stem diameter: About 7 mm. Spray            diameter: About 20 cm. Internode length: About 2 cm to            2.5 cm. Texture: Finely pubescent; longitudinally ridged.            Color: Close to 146B to 146C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 5 cm to 11 cm. Width: About 4 cm to 8 cm. Apex:            Mucronulate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,            serrate; sinuses parallel to convergent. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent, slightly rough; veins prominent            on lower surface. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Darker than 138B. Fully            developed leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146B. Petiole: Length: About 1.5            cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 2.5 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Slightly rough. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146B to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with obovate to            oval-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;            inflorescences borne perpendicular to axillary laterals            (peduncles); ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a            capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering response;            plants exposed to 1.5 weeks of long day/short night            conditions after planting followed by photoinductive short            day/long night conditions flower about 48 days later when            grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,            inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and            substance for about 20 days; inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Grown as a spray type, about 15            inflorescences develop.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.3 cm. Receptacle            height: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 4 mm            to 5 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 145C.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Flattened spherical. Height:            About 4 mm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Close to 137C.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.1            cm to 1.3 cm. Shape: Obovate to oval. Apex: Rounded to            acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number per            inflorescence: About 25 to 30 arranged in about two whorls.            Aspect: About 30° to 45° from horizontal. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 71A and towards the            margins, close to NN155D. When opening, lower surface: Close            to N78C and towards the margins, close to 155C. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 71A and towards the margins,            close to NN155D; with development, color becoming closer to            72A and towards the margins, close to NN155B. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 77C and towards the margins, close            to NN155D; with development, color becoming closer to 77D            and towards the margins, close to NN155B.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Fused tubular, erect and elongated.            Apex: Dentate. Length: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Number per inflorescence: About 250, massed at the            center of the receptacle. Color: When opening: Apex: Close            to 145A. Mid-section: Close to 13A. Base: Close to 145D.            Fully opened: Apex: Close to 7A. Mid-section: Close to 145C.            Base: Close to 150D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Length: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Width: About            2 mm to 6 mm. Shape: Oval-shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Rounded to truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number per inflorescence:            About 30 arranged in about two to three whorls. Color, upper            surface: Close to 137C. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: Terminal inflorescence            bud removed to enhance spray development. Length, fourth            peduncle: About 9 cm to 11 cm. Length, seventh peduncle:            About 14 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle:            About 30° from the flowering stem axis. Texture: Pubescent.            Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Style length: About 4            mm to 5 mm. Style color: Greenish. Stigma color: Yellow.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekfirmenich’ asillustrated and described.